(This post is the 48th of what will be approximately 70 posts following 820th anniversary highlights of what history now calls the “Third Crusade.” My novel, The Swords of Faith, tells the story of this legendary clash between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.)

*****

It had been a long time for Richard the Lionheart since Acre and Arsuf. The triumphant general of those victories during the previous year had to feel like the effort to take Jerusalem was coming apart. Negotiations with the Muslims had been ineffective, by some measures bordering on disaster, with a second Christian faction continuing to negotiate separately with Saladin. Richard had come to the doorstep of Jerusalem only to turn back. And now, on February 20, 1192, 820 years ago today, Richard arrived all the way back up at Acre to prevent a civil war between his Italian allies, from Pisa, and Conrad of Montferrat’s Italian allies, from Genoa. Richard was able to bring the parties together and prevent open conflicts between these rivals. But shortly after his visit, he had an unsatisfactory meeting with Conrad of Montferrat between Acre and Tyre at Casal Imbert. Richard appealed for Christian unity. Conrad bluntly and unambiguously rebuffed him. Richard left the meeting considering ways to deprive Conrad of his resources, and convinced he had a major enemy in his own backyard.

Saladin certainly enjoyed Richard’s problems. But he had problems of his own. With spring, Saladin had serious doubts as to whether he could accumulate the forces and resources necessary to resist Richard’s forces he thought would surely make another attempt at Jerusalem in better weather. Maybe it was time to make a serious offer for a negotiated peace.